SEGMENT DATA - Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2025	Jun. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2024
Segment data
Assets	[1]	$ 5,670		$ 5,670		$ 5,885
Revenue		784	$ 829	1,560	$ 1,627
Media programming and production expenses		420	425	838	833
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		200	194	392	390
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		59	63	121	126
Amortization of program costs		17	18	36	37
Corporate general and administrative expenses		45	50	97	108
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net		9	2	17	2
Other segment items		13	13	24	25
Operating income		21	64	35	106
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		82	76	226	152
Gain on extinguishment of debt		4	0	6	1
Other income, net		(18)	(42)	(84)	(2)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(76)	24	(276)	45
Operating Segments | Local Media
Segment data
Assets		4,416		4,416
Revenue		679	750	1,373	1,477
Media programming and production expenses		380	382	770	765
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		162	178	332	361
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		54	58	110	116
Amortization of program costs		17	18	36	37
Corporate general and administrative expenses		27	29	64	70
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net		(28)	0	(20)	0
Other segment items		2	2	4	4
Operating income		65	83	77	124
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		82	76	226	152
Gain on extinguishment of debt		4		6	1
Other income, net		3	2	6	33
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC
Segment data
Assets	[2]	4,484		4,484		$ 4,689
Revenue		679	750	1,373	1,477
Media programming and production expenses		380	382	770	765
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		162	178	332	361
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		54	58	110	116
Amortization of program costs		17	18	36	37
Corporate general and administrative expenses		27	35	64	76
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net		9	0	17	0
Other segment items		2	2	4	4
Operating income		28	77	40	118
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		82	76	226	152
Gain on extinguishment of debt		4	0	6	1
Other income, net		3	2	6	33
(Loss) income before income taxes		(47)	3	(174)	0
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Operating Segments | Local Media
Segment data
Assets		4,423		4,423
Revenue		679	750	1,373	1,477
Media programming and production expenses		380	382	770	765
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		162	178	332	361
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		54	58	110	116
Amortization of program costs		17	18	36	37
Corporate general and administrative expenses		27	29	64	70
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net		(28)		(20)
Other segment items		2	2	4	4
Operating income		65	83	77	124
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		82	76	226	152
Gain on extinguishment of debt		4		6	1
Other income, net		3	2	6	33
Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC | Corporate
Segment data
Assets		61		61
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Media programming and production expenses		0	0	0	0
Media selling, general and administrative expenses		0	0	0	0
Depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangibles and other assets		0	0	0	0
Amortization of program costs		0	0	0	0
Corporate general and administrative expenses		0	6	0	6
(Gain) loss on asset dispositions and other, net		37		37
Other segment items		0	0	0	0
Operating income		(37)	(6)	(37)	(6)
Interest expense including amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs		0	0	0	0
Gain on extinguishment of debt		0		0	0
Other income, net		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Our consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 include total assets of variable interest entities (“VIE”) of $61 million and $70 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. Our consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 include total liabilities of VIEs of $7 million and $16 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us. See Note 7. Variable Interest Entities.

[2] Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC’s (“SBG”) consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 include total assets of variable interest entities (“VIE”) of $61 million and $70 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. SBG’s consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 include total liabilities of VIEs of $7 million and $16 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to SBG. See Note 6. Variable Interest Entities.